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My dog grabbed a few pitted cherries from the holiday buffet bowl — should I be worried about a 20-pound dog eating 3 cherries?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

For a 20-pound dog, three pitted cherries are unlikely to cause cyanide poisoning, but they can still upset the stomach. The main risk at parties is that cherries often have stems or hidden pits, and the sugary flesh might cause diarrhea. Watch your dog for vomiting, abdominal discomfort, or changes in bowel movements over the next 12 hours. Keep all fruit bowls out of reach during gatherings to prevent this. If you see any worrying signs like excessive drooling or lethargy, contact your vet for advice.

Cherries (pits removed) — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

The flesh is safe, but pits, stems and leaves contain cyanide compounds. Always pit them first.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Cherries (pits removed) is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Why these cautions matter

Stone-fruit pits and some seeds release cyanide when crushed, and quite apart from that they are a choking and blockage hazard.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Cherries (pits removed) food facts page.

Open the full food page: Cherries (pits removed) food facts →